VectorCat

ok..so, I can trust the "new beta" message? downloaded "again" and that resulting beta didn't announce any more, newer betas..

OK, I just installed the latest AP beta, launched it and then was told that there was a new beta. Methinks communication with the Mother Ship could use a smack with a wrench, or the dev counterpart to that? thank you!

OK..new AP beta, but I can't download, and the beta link sez "this email already registered." So..what's the magic secret to getting the AP beta? Thank you! vcat

While I agree with what's said here, I am also concerned about ease-of-use issues concerning selecting objects and layers, and how these things behave relative to conventions which are pushing 30 years old by this time. I agree that AD has some features and methods which ought to make the entire graphics world sit up straight and pay attention, but it's also true that much in life is more meat-and-potatoes, as opposed to exotic and whizzy. IOW: a pencil had better behave like a pencil is expected to: Point at one end, eraser at the other, diameter that feels right in the fingers and lead reasonably resilient to pressure and ability to take a sharp point. If I pick up a pencil and it lacks one or more of these qualities, I chuck it into the wastebasket and search for something that fulfills my needs, even tho that other pencil may have some magic other qualities. If it does a lousy job of being a pencil, I'm done widdit. AD does not do a lousy job at being a vector draw program, but I feel it could do a better job of adhering to certain conventions and expectations rather than trying to re-invent methods. EDIT: and I say this, not to cast nasties on the AD innovations, but because, like it or not, AD is trying to break into a game where Adobe owns the arena. It's simply the way it is; neither right nor wrong. If Affinity had gotten there first, it'd be Adobe playing a game of catch-up, and trying both to adhere to conventions and to differentiate itself from the incumbent.

just the layer being worked on. so far, my "creations" are very simple..

I'm finding that brushes quit painting..quit putting anything onto canvas. I don't see a causal pattern to this. anyone else?

I can't speak for the publisher, but likely there will be some point where all license holders will be charged to upgrade..my guess based on experience with other software upgrade models.

I know what tabs are; been using them since typewriter days. I can not see what the kink behind the AD tabs system is, other than trial and error, and I find that a little scarey and time-consuming.

Interesting points and rationales for them, deeds... Adobe by now have a what, 20..25-year lead on any newcomer to the market. AD has more functionality than AI had in its first 6 months of life, but the point stands is that some compelling wins have to happen now, as opposed to "along the way." Is there data to support the idea that the forum is a "ghost town?" ought it be teeming with user by now, or does it take longer for software to grow a user base?

Yes, please don't sell to adobe, etc. The price is not just fair, but the entire Affinity construct is exactly what we've been crying for for years. "Legacy" software is just an expensive bugfest. The cloud thing is a crime, and in return for your constant gravy train of software fees, you don't get better software; just more features. No meaningful under-the-hood improvements, and near-constant narrative that, if you want better performance, keep buying newer and newer machines. In what universe is that a good deal? Here you have brand-new apps that are more stable and mature than the legacy counterparts and I don't feel like a shiv is being stuck between my ribs. I feel that these developers really know what they're doing, have vision and concern for their base of users. Maybe adobe was like that, once up on a time, long long ago in a place far, far away from here..

Now that we have serious choices in the art/creation realm, I wanted to start a discussion about peoples' experiences with this software, in relation to client needs and expectations. If you're a lone developer or artist and all you need to do is hand over a deliverable, like a JPG or press-ready raster or vector file, that's one thing. It's another if you're expected to integrate your workflow with the client's, and if the client has some level of expectation that you use Brand X software, well..you see why I'd like to start this discussion. It's genius that Affinity products support both CMYK and the legacy software's formats, but are there obstacles with respect to certain clients? Rocks that can neither be moved, nor walked around? If so, what are the strategies for dealing with this, handling client objections, etc.? Thank you for any thoughts. VCat

in the HSL adjustment palette why does the "spectrum" move underneath the slider in the hue shift area? Feels like I move toward a color, then it changes when that spectrum moves. thank you for any clarification.

thank you!

I see make layer from selection, but I don't see a way to save my actual selection itself...is there a way?

Is it possible in Photo, while in an adjustment palette, to toggle between your adjustment, and what that layer looked like prior to making your adjustment?

Ah..so it does...as in AD; I should have reached for that instinctively. Thank you, TonyB!

Could there be a command to duplicate a layer; if it's there, I'm not seeing it. thanks!

yeah, not only do they taketh away, and foisteth upon, but they keep re-arranging the furniture, which is very bad UX...Changing key commands or methods, or where this or that feature is kept, or what it's named or how it works. One develops valuable, time-saving muscle memory of how to do things so that you eventually develop an "act without thinking" workflow, which ought to be the goal of any software developer. Do you sit there and think about how to operate a pencil? No! You grab a pencil, some paper, and start drawing or writing some amazing creation.

I feel that what's partly at work here is a something-for-nothing mentality which has been cultivated in party, frankly, by Apple itself..Apple "throws in" all kinds of great apps, either for free or for a ridiculously low price. and they aren't just any old apps, but well-formed, well-behaved software tools that let you do amazing things. It makes sense for Apple to do this because it helps build their brand (world's most valuable company ain't too shabby) and it helps them sell computers. That is a smart, shrewd move. Over my career, I've taken a chance on a lot of software tools which were, let's call them "rogue*" in the sense that they were trying to break into a market dominated by established and wealthy companies. These rogue developers try to change the game table by offering something very compelling, namely, professional results and tools, fraction of the cost. I have never seen such "rogue" software as mature and well-formed right out of the starting gate as these Affinity tools are. And they aren't merely aping what the big dogs do, they are inventing new ways of approaching our art and craft, and this simply does not come out of a bottle. It takes smarts, vision, and elbow grease. And I for one feel that deserves to be compensated and am happy to pay these, IMO, very modest software prices in exchange for how miraculous this software is. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ *and power TO the rogues..what's that saying that the big changes happen when a few decide to stand up and do things differently, or words to that effect. Rosa Parks, Ghandi, Mandela, to name a few.

subject line says it all...

aside from somebody just flat-out saying it, how to distinguish questions and comments about AD from AP? should each have their own?

as my wife would say of AD's price, "It's a screamin' deal!"

yes, that kind of toggle command would be most welcomed. thank you for the tip about holding the Space bar, ronnyb

yeah that could be helpful.. I was hoping for more a keyboard solution..maybe CMD-D is it. it's weird to say, "I have to go all the way to the tool palette" as though I were walking to Calcutta in bare feet, but it's true; when you're in the Zone, going to the tool palette un-necessarily seems like a tortuous chore.. ;-) edit: just tried cmd-d. works beautifully!

When I am done with the text tool, there seems no easy way to turn it off, or allow me to choose the next tool I want, often the black arrow. You'd think pressing esc would do it, but it takes no fewer than half a dozen pressings of esc to get free of that text tool. You think you've turned it off, then you hit the V key and whammo! the text tool is back in action, ready to insert characters! We need to be able to end it when we're done with text. Is there a way, once and for all, to dismiss the text tool when we're done, and get on with it? thank you! vcat